Does anyone else feel SSRI's are just sugar pills?

[Anonymous]

I've tried six and none work other than making me never want sex again.

Yes

No

[sa230e]

Well, no. They're definitely psychoactive but I think they're garbage drugs. I've also tried my share of them and they definitely have perceptible effects but they're subtle and hard to notice until you're experienced with them. For me that was blunting my emotions, destroying my mental clarity and killing my sex drive. I felt neither highs nor lows and was basically a zombie for four or five years.

SSRIs are the product of something called the monoamine theory of depression. Basically researchers theorized that depression is a state of low levels of certain neurotransmitters, serotonin in particular. But I also have a suspicion that they were the result of science and medicine becoming divorced from empathy, compassion and basic human emotion. In other words they mistook the alleviation of suffering for resolution of the problem. The cessation of depression is not the same thing as happiness and well-being. Just like painkillers don't alleviate an injury, SSRIs do not alleviate depression. They merely take away the awareness of the problem. But if you're only measure is a checklist rating your symptoms on a scale of 1 to 10, that might be considered a success.

That's one of the biggest problems with western medicine in general. It's all about relieving symptoms. There's no interest in the roots of psychological problems anymore. Nobody cares how you got the way you are, they just want to make it go away. Psychiatry is a cold, clinical profession devoid of humanity. I'm all for objective truth, elimination of bias and the scientific method but there has to be some wisdom, some human emotional intuition to guide the process otherwise you wind up chasing and studying hypotheses that don't lead anywhere.

SSRIs are drugs of suppression. They suppress your emotions, they dim your awareness and they cloud your insight into your problems. That's not how you end depression, that's how you make docile, pliant and empty people.

[EasyForYouToSay]

SSRIs were intended for people with clinical mental illness. They have biochemical imbalances that cause the problems (psychiatric disorders). SSRIs and other antidepressants work by correcting those imbalances, not by supressing symptoms.
They tend not to work for psychological illness, which are emotional, rather than clinical.
So what you're saying is dead accurate, for those with a psychological disorder, rather than a psychatric one.

[EasyForYouToSay]

That being said, antidepressants are one of the most over-prescribed drugs, other than antibiotics. It's understandable that a lot of people have problems with them, because they simply don't need them. In fact, a lot of doctors prescribe sub-therapeutic doses as a placebo, instead of the patient putting effort into resolving psychological problems.

[Entity]

I don't think you understand how they work. Which is okay because really only scientists and neurologists do. But you can take 20 and it doesn't work that way.

[Asker]

I understand the theory of how they work but that doesn't mean they do. I'm not the only one doubting this and while a depressed brain is verifiable with an fMRI patients are not show. To respond after use of SSRI's over to course of months. The brain images are not changed.

[Entity]

Well considering they can take up to 6 months to work if you just tried six I'd be surprised whether in count or in type.

[Anonymous]

I'm on the lowest dose of Effexor, have been for nearly two months at this point. I think it's a SSRI? I believe? I also feel that it's blunted my emotions to an extent but honestly it's exactly what I need right now. It's harder to cry or have an orgasm but I can still feel the highs and lows (mood) but it's much more steady and consistent. I feel more even mood-wise and the lows aren't quite as low. I am also in therapy and find that while on Effexor I can use the CBT techniques my counsellor has taught me.

I still get horny like everyday, but I get bored or disinterested while masturbating and stop. I have had two or three orgasms maybe since starting the meds. I don't feel like super frustrated or unsatisfied when I get the bored feeling and stop, like I'm still horny and messing around a bit is enough. I'm guessing it's thanks to Effexor and stress. Sorry if that's TMI. That's just been my experience.

At least with Effexor, it's long acting and takes like three weeks to kick in and fully work, if it will for you. For me I noticed more and more effects and by the end of the second week was feeling quite a bit more "even" mood wise. I stopped having panic attacks and don't cry as much or struggle to take care of myself. Counselling, journaling, working out regularly, drinking a lot of water, eating better, stretching every day, and the meds have helped me reach that place where I'm finally taking small steps forward.

Talk to your doctor about different options and your concerns? I hope everything works out for you <3

[EasyForYouToSay]

Maybe you need a different medication, or a different type of therapy altogether. SSRIs are one of the classes of antidepressants that cause the least side effects on average, but some work better than others.
The other possibility is that you suffer from a psychological problem, rather than a psychatric one, and you require therapies other than drug therapy.

[quinoaflakes]

No. You need to tell your doctor then because you don't have the correct dosage or you haven't waited long enough to see if they work. When i took them, they worked just perfectly. They totally do mess with your sex drive though, which totally sucks.

[apple24]

Really? Never want have sex? I guess you don't need them! They use to boost my sex drive... its low right now it kinda pathetic! hahah lol

[apple24]

What I am trying to say is if you take the right ones they make you feel normal.